In 2005, with the adoption of resolution 1612, the Security Council took the unprecedented step of establishing a Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) on grave violations committed against children in times of armed conflict.
The purpose of the MRM is to provide for the systematic gathering of accurate, timely, objective and reliable information on six grave violations committed against children in situations of armed conflict.
The six grave violations are:
- Killing and maiming of children;
- Recruitment and use of children by armed forces and armed groups;
- Sexual violence against children;
- Attacks against schools or hospitals;
- Abduction of children;
- Denial of humanitarian access for children.
The information gathered through the MRM is used in United Nations reporting, including the annual report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict and country-specific reports of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict. These reports trigger action by the Security Council and other actors.
You can read all our reports in the virtual library.
The information collected through the MRM is also used to inform the response, to provide services to boys and girls as well as to engage with parties to conflict to foster accountability and compliance with international child protection standards.
Where is the MRM in place?
The MRM is established in country-situations where parties to conflict have been listed in the annexes of the annual report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict. For the most updated annexes, you can refer to the last Secretary-General annual report.
In the past, only parties that recruit and use children were included in the annexes of the annual report. In 2009, 2011, and 2015, the Security Council adopted resolutions to also list armed forces and groups who kill and maim children, commit sexual violence against children, attack schools and hospitals, and abduct children.
The MRM ends when violations against children have ended, mechanisms to protect boys and girls have been put in place and all parties in a country situation have been de-listed.
Who manages the MRM?
The Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting (CTFMR), co-chaired by UNICEF and the highest UN representative in-country, are mandated to manage the MRM. Teams on the ground collect information, respond to grave violations and engage in advocacy, notably to negotiate and implement Action Plans.
For example, members of the task force assist in the release of children, provide reintegration services, and help vacate schools used militarily, often at a moment’s notice.
UNICEF co-chairs the CTFMR in all countries on the agenda of the Office of the Special Representative. In countries with a peacekeeping or peacebuilding mission, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the Department of Peacekeeping Mission (DPKO) or the Department of Political Affairs (DPA) mission, also co-chairs the CTFMR. In country-situations with no peacekeeping mission, the UN Resident Coordinator co-chairs the Task Force.
It is important to note that the Office of the Special Representative does not have a field presence but promotes and supports the work of operational partners.
A website dedicated to the MRM
UNICEF, the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict have launched a website dedicated to the MRM: www.mrmtools.org
On this website, practitioners and those interested in the MRM will find the MRM guidelines, the Field Manual as well as MRM best practices.